What Is Natural Religion?

Every once in a while I read the phrase "natural religion". I get a feeling from its usage that it has a meaning for something other than the religion we think of as in church. I know from Michael Gazzaniga's new book, "The Consciousness Instinct", that it fits into the study of psychology of the mind. Can anyone explain what is meant by "natural religion"? Thank you.

Natural religion most frequently means the "religion of nature", in which God, the soul, spirits, and all objects of the supernatural are considered as part of nature and not separate from it.

Even though it says that is the "most frequent" meaning, I suspect that when you hear the phrase the intended meaning is something else. Here's another definition from wiki

It is also used in philosophy, specifically Roman Catholic philosophy, to describe some aspects of religion that are knowable apart from divine revelation through logic and reason alone (see natural theology and Deism) for example, the existence of the unmoved Mover, the first cause of the universe.

Wiki goes on to give other definitions. These days I think the phrase is often used to convey something like this (again, from wiki). Think of fervent activists like Greenpeace.

A reverent form of nature worship, embodied in a statement by Frank Lloyd Wright: "I put a capital N on Nature, and call it my Church."

Using my own words, I think it is most often intended to mean a set of morals or values derived purely from "natural" (as opposed to supernatural) foundations. Unlike Deism, it posits no God, because there is no God, only nature. Also called things like "humanistic naturalsim:"

Humanistic naturalism is the branch of philosophical naturalism wherein human beings are best able to control and understand the world through use of the scientific method, combined with the social and ethical values of humanism. Concepts of spirituality, intuition, and metaphysics are considered subjectively valuable only, primarily because they are unfalsifiable, and therefore can never progress beyond the realm of personal opinion.

Wiki goes on to give other definitions. These days I think the phrase is often used to convey something like this (again, from wiki). Think of fervent activists like Greenpeace.

Using my own words, I think it is most often intended to mean a set of morals or values derived purely from "natural" (as opposed to supernatural) foundations. Unlike Deism, it posits no God, because there is no God, only nature. Also called things like "humanistic naturalsim:"

Don't forget that 'pagan' in Latin means rural, i.e. country as opposed to city/town.

I did not know that! Now, with my runaway imagination, do you suppose those "pagans" went out to the countryside to avoid the religion of the city fathers and pressure to conform? Hence, "Pagan = non-believer?

I did not know that! Now, with my runaway imagination, do you suppose those "pagans" went out to the countryside to avoid the religion of the city fathers and pressure to conform? Hence, "Pagan = non-believer?

Just a thought, LaurieAG. What do you think?

Nope, natural 'religion' existed before town or cities came into being.

I did not know that! Now, with my runaway imagination, do you suppose those "pagans" went out to the countryside to avoid the religion of the city fathers and pressure to conform? Hence, "Pagan = non-believer?

Just a thought, LaurieAG. What do you think?

Hmmm? And where does that fit in with what we call superstitions which existed in ancient historic (or prehistoric) times? Of course, one man's superstitions can be another's religion.

It has always been my understanding that many early religions actually worshiped nature. I believe that is much of what even modern pagans do.

It has always been my understanding that many early religions actually worshiped nature. I believe that is much of what even modern pagans do.

The ancient Romans had many of the same 'gods' as the ancient Greeks. They also associated their 'gods' with the 'gods' of all the people they conquered. Many people had 'gods' that were associated with their respective societies most important requirements such as a good harvest, fertility and the well being of their animals. Even Saint Patrick was reputed to have associated traditional pagan beliefs with his own religion to gain acceptance from the populace.